ABUJA – The Supreme Court of Nigeria has fixed today, Thursday, July 10, 2025, to deliver judgment in the high-stakes legal dispute over the 2024 Edo State Governorship Election, marking the final chapter in a case that has held national attention since the conclusion of the polls in September 2024.

This was confirmed in an official notification from the office of the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, signed by Ukor Michael Akan on behalf of the Chief Registrar.

The case, with suit number SC/CV/536/2025, was brought before the apex court by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Asue Ighodalo, and the PDP, who are challenging the declaration of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 2024 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). 

INEC, the APC, Senator Okpebholo, and his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, are listed as respondents in the matter.

Dr Ighodalo and the PDP had contended that the election was marred by widespread irregularities, vote suppression, and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act, particularly in several local government areas. 

They also raised questions about the eligibility and valid nomination of the APC deputy governorship candidate, Dennis Idahosa, arguing that his documentation contained discrepancies which, in their view, rendered the joint ticket invalid.

After weeks of legal arguments, the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Benin City dismissed the petition for lack of merit, ruling that the petitioners failed to provide sufficient evidence to support their claims of electoral malpractice and qualification defects. 

The tribunal held that the election substantially complied with electoral laws and that the APC ticket was validly nominated.

Not satisfied with the tribunal judgement, Ighodalo and the PDP proceeded to the Court of Appeal, seeking a reversal of the tribunal judgement

The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, affirmed the tribunal’s judgment in a unanimous decision delivered by a three-member panel. 

The appellate court ruled that the PDP and its candidate did not establish their case and found no reason to interfere with the decision of the lower court.

Still dissatisfied, Ighodalo and the PDP proceeded to the Supreme Court, urging the apex court to overturn the concurrent judgments of the tribunal and the Court of Appeal. 

They are seeking either a fresh election or a declaration that their candidate was the rightful winner of the September 2024 election.

The case, it was gathered has since generated intense political debate within and beyond Edo State, with implications for party control, voter confidence, and institutional credibility.

As legal teams from both sides brace for the Supreme Court’s verdict, today’s judgement is expected to bring finality to the long-drawn legal contest and ultimately determine the validity of the mandate currently held by Governor Monday Okpebholo.